Fuse for explosive projectiles.



No. 654,285. Patented July 24, I900;

E. SCRIBA. FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES.

(Application filed Apr. 23, 1900.) v

2 Sheets-Sheet l 4N0 Modei.)

affoinu -s No. 654,285. Patented July 24, I900.

E. SCRIBA. 'FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVE PBDJEGTILES.

( pplication' flied Apr. 28, 1990.

(No lodel.)

l/vi h wanes UNITED STATES PATENT OFF C EMIL SORIBA, or HEILBRONNYGERMAQTYY.

FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVE, PROJECTILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. eoaasauatedudiy 24, 1900."

Application filed April 23,1900. Serial No. 14,032. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL SCRIBA, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Heilbronn, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuses for Explosive Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosiveprojectiles; and it consists of the employment with each projectile of a time-fuse,'a percussionfuse, and a percussion device for igniting the time-fuse so arranged that the percussionfuse and the percussion device for igniting the time-fuse can be bodily and independently removed when required.

I will describe my invention with reference to the'accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a shrapnel-shell embodying my invention. .Fig. 2

is an end view of a priming-piece in the form of a shell-head and unprovided with a fuse. Fig. 3 is an under side view of the primingpiece. .Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the priming-piece, showing recesses for the reception of a screw andpin used in connection with time-fuse-igniting devices. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate two slight modifications of the priming-piece which enable the time-fuseigniting devices to be removed without removing the percussion fus. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the percussion-fuse.

v essary.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views of a safety device used in connection with the time-fuse-igniting device.

According to this invention the fuse mainly consists of aflanged supporting plate or disk P, screwed to the shell, a priming-piece 0,

and a central or set screw z for retaining the priming-piece in position. As a shrapnel double fuse involves the provision of two igniting or detonating devices and requires 'a percussion-fuse which is to come into operation in the event of the time-fuse failing to produce the desired eifect, certain important modifications in its construction are nec- The devices for igniting the time-fuse, as shown in Figs. 1, 8, and 9, consist of a cylindrical brass case 10, closed by a screw-cap 11 at its upper end. Near its lower end is a plate or disk a holding a detonating pellet.

70, carrying the detonating pellet.

the detonating flash to the time-fuse. detonating pellet is fired by means of a needle 1' bolt b, having a steel point, which ibolt is )cked in place by a pin or key c. eqTo pre- An opening or port is provided outside-thedisk a, which opening serves as a passage fler T event premature explosion, there is'interposed between the disk a and the end. of the bolt '1) a bent piece of sheet-brass d,' which is shown unfolded in Fig. 9. I

In the priming-piece or shell-head parallel to the central longitudinal passage provided for the reception of the set-screw *ithere is formed a second cylindrical perforation e,

' Figs. 2 and 3, into which'thje casing'10 is'insorted loosely with a limited space to move in, so that the foot or base of the casing is flush with'the lower surface of the primingpiece, the ear orlug of the key 0 resting within screw-g firmly retains the casing 10 in posi tion. 1 i

placed close against the retaining-screw 41, so

that thehead of the screw-partiallycovers the passage containing the casing.

5 and 6, however, this is not the case, the latter construction admitting of the removal. of the casing lOwgithout the necessity'of taking 0 out the retaining or set screw '11. As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the retaining or set screw constitutes the percussion-fuse,

Externally it consists of a cyliuder,preferably of brass, having a "somewhat-projecting head h and at.its inward end with a screw-thread for the reception of the flanged disk P, ,lts

interior is for the greater part hollowed out cylindr cally, and the head is closed by a screw Through:

the screw-threaded end of the said retaining.

screw "is a partly-conical and partly-cylindrical channel which leads from the hollow space or chamber toward the explosive charge to afiord a passage for the detonating flash.

Within the hollow chamber are arranged the following parts: a hollow brass weight Z, one end of which is next to the closing-screw k; a steel needle m, of triangular section,pr0- jecting into the hollow weight; the foot m or In Figs.

supporting-plate, of which needle mestson' j the bottom of the hollow chamber inthe re- 7Q a deep recess f in'the'primi'ng piece. 'Asniall'f i lwill have a tendency to move to the rear and become jammed on the needle, and when the projectile strikes anobject the weight and "needle will advance together and the needle will come in contact with and ignite the detonating pellet, and the firing fiash will pass through the foot-plate of the needle, which plate has three perforations 'm to the charge within the projectile.

The priming-piece 0, forming the head or point of a shell,has a cylindrical portion, upon the surface of which the timing-scale can conveniently be eitected. Its lower end is engaged by the annular flange of, the disk P, whereby it is reliably secured in position. A channel or port q, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, serves as an outlet for the excess of force displayed by ifihe detonating pellet, which ignites the timeuse.

The disk 'P is screw-threaded to enable the shell to be screwed onto it, and it is also tapped for the reception of the central retaining-scre'w 'i and is provided with a path for the-fire of the time-f use to reach the explosive charge. I The priming-piece or shell-head may be of zinc, or it may be of nickel-plated cast-steel. -The shrapnel double fuse admits of two diflerent modes of employment, both of which have been recognized as necessary-first, when the needle-retaining pin or keycis not removed the percussion-f use alone comes into operation and the projectile acts as a bombshell, and, "second, when the said key is removed the projectile operates (ct) as grape-shot (case-shot, canister-shot) if timed at the near end of the'priming-ring or (b) as shrapnel if ing body, and its operation is perfectly reliable.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in: what'manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. An explosiveprojectile comprising the explosive shell, a priming-piece re'tnovably attached to the shell, said priming-piece having two parallel longitudinal bores, one centrally arranged and both having communication with the interior of the shell, a percussion firing-fuse in the central bore of the priming-piece, a time-fuse in said primingpiece, and a percussive firing device for the time-fuse in the other bore, each of said percussive firing devices being operative independently of the other, substantially as set forth.-

2. An explosive projectile comprising the explosive shell, a priming-piece removably attached to the shell, a percussion firing device for the shell supported in a central 1ongitudinal bore in the priming-piece, a timefuse arranged concentrically of the percussion firing-fuse and independent thereof, a

percussion firingdevice for the time-fuse supported in a bore in the priming-piece parallel with and to one side of central bore, each of said percussive firing devices being operative independently of the other and separately re movable from the priming-piece, and a removable lock device to render the firing device for the time-fuse inoperative, substantially as set forth.

3. A percussion firing-f use for an explosive projectile, comprising a casing t" secured to the projectile and communicating with the explosive charge therein, a cap closing the outeuend of said casing and carrying a detonating pellet, a tubular weight within the casing, a triangular firing-needle having a perforated footpiece engaging the lower .wall of said casing, said needle projectinginto the tubular weight and being wider toward the foot portion than the interior diameter of said weight, and a spring interposed between the footpiece and the opposing end of the weight, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL SCRIBA.

Witnesses:

LUDWIG KAHN, llmNR. Winn. IIARTMANN. 

